sedate

1 of 2

adjective

se·​date si-ˈdāt 

: keeping a quiet steady attitude or pace : unruffled

sedately adverb

sedateness noun

sedate

2 of 2

verb

sedated; sedating

transitive verb

: to dose with sedatives

Synonyms

Adjective

• earnest
• grave
• humorless
• no-nonsense
• po-faced [British]
• serious
• severe
• sober
• sobersided
• solemn
• staid
• uncomic
• unsmiling
• weighty

Choose the Right Synonym for sedate

serious, grave, solemn, sedate, staid, sober, earnest mean not light or frivolous.

serious implies a concern for what really matters.

a serious play about social injustice

grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude.

read the proclamation in a grave voice

solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity.

a sad and solemn occasion

sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness.

remained sedate amid the commotion

staid suggests a settled, accustomed sedateness and prim self-restraint.

a quiet and staid community

sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity.

a sober look at the state of our schools

earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose.

an earnest reformer

Examples of sedate in a Sentence

Adjective

We walked the beach at a sedate pace.

He remained sedate under pressure.

Verb

The doctor sedated the patient heavily.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The design of the cabin is a bit more sedate, but the space is covered in black leather and microsuede upholstery, along with special SV Project 8 logos. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2024

Grand with a modern aspect, though much more sedate than a typical Cirque du Soleil show, beyond the entrance hall, the residence opens up to a spacious entrance hall that leads to a vast living room that doubles as a stately library and a private office with a fireplace. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 19 Nov. 2024

Verb

She was fully sedated once she was admitted to the hospital. —Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 5 Sep. 2024

Giving Marcus the pills to keep Reg sedated in order to save his beloved Sparrows, even when Reg kicks him out of the family? —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin sedatus, from past participle of sedare to calm; akin to sedēre to sit — more at sit

Verb

back-formation from sedative

First Known Use

Adjective

1663, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1945, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sedate

adjective

se·​date

si-ˈdāt

: quiet in manner or conduct : staid, sober

sedately adverb

sedateness noun

Medical Definition

sedate

transitive verb

se·​date si-ˈdāt 

sedated; sedating

: to dose with sedatives

the patient was sedated before the procedure